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Loch Reports
30.06.08 - June 2008
Ronnie Mackenzie from Thurso has broken the Heilen record. Whilst fishing with boat partner Ramie Millard (2007 record holder) he landed the superb 11lbs 10 oz monster on a size 10 Golden Olive Bumble on Monday 2nd June. Ronnie also reported loosing another of similar size later the same day. Scales from the trout were sent away to the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory in Pitlochry and it was confirmed that the trout was 13+ years old. The next few days saw a few more trout being caught from Heilen up to 5 lbs and it was encouraging to hear that a high percentage were returned safely.
Most of the month of June was quite disappointing to say the least, as we had very bright sunny days combined with a cold Easterly or N/Easterly wind and this really had a bad effect on the likes of Watten. During the odd decent day when there was a west wind and cloud cover some reasonable baskets were reported. The weather also had a huge effect on St John's loch and despite a good mayfly hatch sport was also very patchy and hard going. Let's hope that we get some better weather for July. !!!
31.05.08 - May 2008
The new 2008 season kicked of on Watten on Thursday 1st May. Fishing for the month could only be described as "rubbish" due to hot weather and bright cloudless skies combined with either a North or an East wind. Watten regulars Tom & Joe Rennolds made the long trip north to fish the bank holiday weekend and did not let the poor conditions stop them from enjoying their trip....
30.09.06 - September 2006
September on Watten continued as all the previous months of the 2006 season “absolutely brilliant” with some cracking baskets being reported and again some belters up to 3 pounds amongst them. Top of the water techniques were the order for the first half of September as the hot summer continued with the fish being tempted to Daddies and various dries.
Watten regulars Jim Davidson & Jim McNee enjoyed some excellent sport during the last week of the season, mostly on small brown flies on the floating line mainly in “ Factors Bay “
Local anglers Steve Turner & Ronnie Mackenzie closed their season in style with some nice fish up to two pounds on a size 10 Rogans Extractor in “ Factors Bay “
31.08.06 - August 2006
Despite high water temperatures and shrinking water levels Loch Watten continued to do the business with many anglers reporting their best ever season both for size and quality of the trout being caught.
The only down side was the massive weed patches that was covering a lot of the loch but some good sport and action was had in and around the Island, Railway Bay and Lynegar. Floating and intermediate lines teamed up with Watten Warriors, Sedgehogs, Half Hogs, Peach Muddlers, Snatchers, Daddies and Dabblers accounted for most of the action. Lots of trout in the 2 to 2.5lbs were being caught along with a few cracking 3 pounders.
Ruthven Anglers held their annual competition on Watten on Saturday 26th accompanied with a few local anglers. 19 Anglers participated and with a 12 inch limit imposed for the day a total of 36 trout were weighed in for 38 lbs 11 oz. Five trout over two pounds were recorded on the day. Results were ... Winner : James Gardiner, Inverness 8 for 9 lbs 5 oz Second : Alan Porteous, Thurso 3 for 4 lbs 12 oz Third equal were Tony Chalmers, Thurso and James Stewart, Inverness with 4 each for 4 lbs Heaviest Fish : Jimmy Swanson, Wick 2 lbs 8oz
31.07.06 - July 2006
July was another very good month with some superb catches being reported from nearly all of the Caithness Lochs. Loch Watten in particular was returning on a regular basis some cracking trout in the 3 pound class. Young Kevin Manson started his school holidays in style with a 3 lbs 4 oz beauty from Watten on the 5th July. ( see gallery ) It was tempteded to a Norsky Lad. Other local anglers to break the 3 pound barrier were Stuart Miller with one at 3lbs 1 oz and another at 2 lbs 4 oz on the 8th , both on the Peter Ross and Eddie Beattie also weighed in one at 3 lbs 1oz on the 21st.
Watten regulars Ian Rennolds & Mark Taylor enjoyed a good week on Watten with some nice conditioned fish weighing up to 2.5 lbs as did Colin McIsaac and boat partner Stuart Blades landing quite a few over 2 pounds for their annual visit.
30.06.06 - June 2006
A visitig angler ( name not known ? ) fishing on a boat from Central Caravan's Watten landed a cracker weghing in at 3 lbs 9oz on a size 10 Kate McLaren on Friday 2nd June.
Perhaps some one could give me more info and picture of this fantastic catch please !!! .
Loch Heilen Local angler Mac Young landed a superb 9 lbs 8 oz Brown Trout on a size 10 Doobry on Thursday evening 8th June. Photo showing Mac's trout, another picture can be viewed in the gallery. Stan Headley also had a nice 4 lbs 8 oz trout from Loch Heilen on the 17th.
31.05.06 - CAITHNESS LOCHS MAY 2006
Loch Watten opened on Monday 1st May and due to a cold and wet miserable day combined with a fresh E SE wind few boats ventured out.
Inverness anglers Jimmy Craib and Davie Stewart braved the elements and were rewarded with a nice basket of 12. All were on Intermediate and Slime lines on mini lures. The best weighed in at 2lbs 7oz and also another 2 at 2lbs.
Local anglers Mac Young and boat partner Alex Calder also had a good day with a total of 12. They had 3 @ 2lbs and 1 @ 1lb 12oz with all the remaining trout between 1and 1.5lbs
Both boats commented on the excellent quality of the fish which was all mainly taken from the North shore in quite shallow water where the fish were feeding heavily on Shrimp.
Midlothian Angling Association enjoyed some excellent fishing on Watten during their 3 day annual visit mid month despite the cold east wind. The 12 members reported 41 trout weghing an estimated 50 lbs and also returned 68 fish. Nick Dawson and boat partner Billy Colvin did particulary well on both buzzers and dry flies with Billy boating a cracker of 3 lbs. The above photo shows Billy with a brace of 2 pounders.
The Highland Federation competition was held on Saturday 27th May on Watten and a total of 124 trout were weighed in and some excellent trout in the 2 - 2.5 lbs class caught. The winning team for the 3rd year in a row were Ruthven Fly Fishers from Inverness with 20 trout for 20 lbs 9 oz with Dounrey Fly Fishing Assoc runners up. The largest trout was caught by Norrie McSween from Dows Angling Club Inverness, tipping the scales at 3 lbs 1 oz. The best individual basket fell to James Gardiner ( Ruthven ) 11 trout for 10 lbs 15 oz with Jimmy Craib ( Ruthven ) coming 2nd with 6 trout for 7 lbs.
Local Angler George Robertson landed a cracking 6 lb 8 oz trout from Loch Heilen on the 20 th May. It was tempted to a size 10 Clan Cheif and a picture of the happy couple can be viewed in the photo gallery.
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